I had recently called my doctor's office to ask them about Lialda (before I found out it is way too expensive) and at the same time I asked the nurse if I could possibly try the Rowasa enemas or something of the sort. She told me that they wouldn't put me on it or that I wouldn't want to be on them because they contain steroids like prednisone. I thought that some of the foam enemas are actually used as maintenance medication? I've tried the suppositories before but I hated them- they didn't make any bit of difference and instead just made me really gassy and bloated.

This just sounded strange to me... Are any of you using the enemas for maintenance or just to control a flare?? It seems usually when I'm feeling better the main part that is always inflamed is the lower end (though I do have pancolitis) so I thought that maybe the enemas would help. Female, 22, Ulcerative colitis (pancolitis) since 1999; GERD; gastritis; osteopenia in hip & lumbar region of spine from long term prednisone use

I use Rowasa enemas and have for several years. They are mesalamine. They do not contain steroids. I use them during flare-ups and as a maintenance medication during remission. I believe they are one of the best tools to help me keep my remission.

There are enemas and foams that do contain steroids, but Rowasa is not one of them.Current Medications:

I use Rowasa enemas every night, and I do 2 a days when I have flares. They work like a charm for me. If I see any blood, I take an enema, and the next day it is gone. The only bad thing about them is they seem to make me a little gassy and for about 10 minutes after I take it, I am really uncomfortable, but that goes away. Good luck.diagnosed with left-sided UC in 1997.

I've been on cortifoam steroid foam enema for as long as a yr before tappering...once things clear up then I wean off, if they start up again, I literally nip it in the butt and get it before it gets too out of control.

It works well for me, I highly recommend it...key is getting on it before the proctitis gets out of control too much then you won't likely have to be on it as long.

:)My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :)

Not all GI nurses are that knowledgable when it comes to medications. You have to be your own advocate sometimes. Rowasa is strictly a 5-ASA - Asacol in liquid form. It contains no steroids whatsoever. And yes, Rowasa can be used as a maintenance medication to help keep your flares at bay. If you are looking for a rectal med to take care of the flare quickly - I highly suggest the Colocorts instead of the foam since it's a liquid and will reach higher up then the foam. If you are only flaring rectally then yes the foam can be great. Rowasa is a bit slower to jump into action but it's a lot healthier on your body then a steroid. Steroids should only be used for short term courses to get flares under control. But my GI has said he has had some of his patients on either Rowasa or Canasa for years with no complications.

Your doctor's nurse is wrong. Rowasa is not a steroid enema. You can use it safely forever as a maintenance drug. I'd call back and ask for the doctor and let the doctor know that the nurse is giving out wrong "information" and making choices about your treatment that should be made by the doctor.

There IS a steroid enema and there also is a steroid rectal foam. Both are great for controlling flares. Like pb4 said, you can use them for a while without problems and taper off when the flare is under control.-------UC for the last ten yearsCurrent Meds: 6MPPast Meds: You name it; I've tried it.

Since we all agree the nurse/receptionist/assistant knows diddly....call the doctor's office and request the Rowasa AGAIN..sheesh.

Even if the Rowasa wasn't enough, the steroid enemas (liquid or foam) are still good for a booster if needed....but use them firstly. Make sure you get refills...enough for 2 months...which would be 6 - 8 refills. since there's 7 in a box.

Thanks everyone! I have an appointment on the 18th with my doctor so I will just speak with him directly about it... He really wants me taking Asacol so I figured he'd be all about Rowasa.

So, when you fill the prescription you get 7 and then have to get new ones every week?Female, 22, Ulcerative colitis (pancolitis) since 1999; GERD; gastritis; osteopenia in hip & lumbar region of spine from long term prednisone use

I do my prescriptions through my insurance's mail order pharmacy because it is a lot cheaper, so I get a 90 day supply at a time. Those boxes take up an entire shelf in my linen closet!

I have never seen an increase in my symptoms with the Rowasa. I have, from time to time, tried to take a hiatus from them, and whenever I go back on them, my rectal symptoms immediately begin to subside. They have always offered virtually instant relief for me.Current Medications:

We are not sure if it is working or not but my 62 year old husband is to have a flex sigmoid to-morrow ( same DR who did the colonoscopy Nov2 and made UC diagnosis).. so we will see if there is any change to the ulcerations as there is no change or improvement in him at all . He is also on 80 mg of prednisone and now this week Lialda too... It is thought he may be "steroid refractory" so i hope they can try another drug.

HOWEVER I wanted to emphasize as others did before me that the generic Rowasa is not nearly as good as the brand. I do not mean the medication is different: it probably is the same BUT the applicator is so different.................. the generic bottle is stiff and very hard therefore difficult to deliver all the medication in.. FYI anyway... just our 2 cents.....

I get a 2-week supply every time I pick up my Rowasa (2 boxes). I think it just depends how your doctor writes out the prescription. I wish mine had written it out for a month's worth, b/c it was a pain going in every two weeks when I was using them daily. I would definitely tell your doctor that his nurse is giving out wrong information.23 years oldDiagnosed with UC March 2007Current inflamation in the rectumAsacol 4 tablets 3x/day

I wouldn't say that one "could stay on Rowasa safely forever" because it's unlikely that any med is safe "forever"! The body changes over time even with normal aging so its maintenance needs change, too. However, Rowasa is indeed a helpful 5-ASA for treatment of left-sided UC inflammation. It is slower-acting than the steroid enemas, but safer to use over time. Have a look at my earlier post "New Online IBD Article Summarizes Current Medical Treatment Options"-- the 1st part discusses UC & types of 5-ASAs & what they can be expected to do. Maybe you can print out a copy for your doctor & his nurse! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily; seem to be back in remission)

Thanks, Old Hat. I think you're right. I think that I've had a doctor tell me that long term use of Rowasa was perfectly safe, which then got translated in my brain as "forever" and "for the rest of your life"! I suppose that's how I hear everything related to UC sometimes. :)-------UC for the last ten yearsCurrent Meds: 6MPPast Meds: You name it; I've tried it.

Forever doesn't mean nightly forever....tapering, finding maintenance, using suppositories if you taper off the enemas for maintenance are also regimen. They also come in a 2 gram dosage....so, right there lowers the dosage. The foam comes in 1000 mg I think...so, that's lower still, but it's not available everywhere which is a shame.

This thread has me wondering....so how long is too long then? I ask this as the colocourt ones were too difficult for hubby to retain - one to two hours max and they really did not seem to do that much after the initial benefit derived from it.

Mayo took him off those that our local GI prescribed and he is using cortifoam at night and canasa in the morning. Some nights he will skip the cortifoam but for the most part he is using it on the average 5 times per week at night. It is SOOOOOOOOOOO much easier to adminster, tolerate and the benefits for him seemed to really help big time. Since the discomfort and problems now seem to be in the real lower end of things we assumed the enemas are what does and will make the difference.

It has been discussed about tapering off the pain meds first then the enemas. We see the Dr at Mayo in about 4 months. We see our local GI every month for local monitoring.

Waiting on a lab test to check his cortisol level as he is about to stop his 2 1/2 mg of prednisone in a few days if all goes well. May he be able to not only get off it but stay off it for a good long while.

AnotherUCWife - I'm not sure of the answer to your question about the enemas as we have different names for them in England. But I think Rowasa is a liquid enema similar to the predsol steroid liquid enema. Similar size too. I have never been able to retain liquid enemas in. Not even for 5 minutes. They are a nightmare for me. So, I am sticking to predfoam.

I see your husband is on 2.5mg of pred and is planning on stopping it. I would STRONGLY recommend that he doesn't do this. I always flare at this point. I advise you to get 1mg tablets and stay on 1mg for at least a month before stopping completely. It might not sound like much but it will make all the difference. Especially if he has been on steroids for a long time.

Thank you KSU for your info......this has been discussed at length with both doctors. What is so different with this taper is that it has been a much longer and slower one. Unlike the other 2 times he was put on it, the tapering was too quick and the mgs always went from 60,50,40 etc. and when he got to 20 or 10 mgs wham....not so this time.

This time when it got to 20 mgs the tapers were by 2 1/2 mgs and not the 10 mgs as in the past and he seems to be doing ok this time -- the 150 mg of Imuran seems to have made the difference also when it finally started to kick in making him less reliant on the prednisone or so we think. This round began at 40 mgs in Mid May when the Imuran was started so hopefully (fingers crossed) he is heading in the right direction. He is not exhibiting the usual flaring type behaviour when he tried tapering twice before so I pray this is the right time.